The Adventures of Jesus Christ
Episodes from the Life of Jesus for Young Readers
by Vincent Cheung
[ Contents ]
Chapter 29. Jesus Returned from the Dead
I TOLD YOU I WOULD BE BACK
After Jesus died on the cross, his body was taken down and placed in a tomb. A man named Joseph of Arimathea, who was a follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for permission to take the body. He wrapped the body in cloth and placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of rock. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to seal it, and soldiers were stationed there to guard it. The disciples were heartbroken, thinking that everything was over.
However, the disciples should not have felt this way. Throughout his ministry, Jesus spoke openly about what would happen to him. He told his disciples that he would be betrayed, suffer, die, and then be raised back to life after three days. Jesus did not hide this truth. He shared it multiple times, preparing them for what was to come. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law. He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Despite his clear explanations, the disciples struggled to understand. The idea of the Christ being put to death was so difficult for them to accept that it simply did not make sense to them and did not stick in their minds. Peter even tried to argue with Jesus, and said that such a thing should never happen to him. Jesus had to correct Peter, and explained that this was all part of God’s plan. He repeatedly told his disciples, “I will have to die, but I will be back.”
When Jesus was arrested and crucified, the disciples were overcome with fear and sadness. They had forgotten, or perhaps never truly believed, that he would come back from the dead. It was only after the resurrection, when they saw the empty tomb and Jesus alive once more, that they began to fully understand what he had been telling them all along. He knew that he would be resurrected. But for his disciples, it was a miracle that changed everything. It was proof that Jesus was who he said he was and that he had power over death itself.
Early on the first day of the week, just as the sun was rising, some women made their way to the tomb where Jesus had been laid to rest.
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome had bought spices so they could treat the body of Jesus. Back then, people would put special oils and spices on the body of someone who had died. This was a way to show love and respect for the person, kind of like giving them a final goodbye.
As they walked to the tomb, the women talked to one another, wondering how they would move the heavy stone that sealed the entrance. “Who will roll away the stone for us?” they asked one another.
When they arrived at the tomb, they were shocked to find that the large stone had already been rolled away! Who could have done this? The stone was very large and heavy. The tomb was empty. The women peered inside and saw that the body of Jesus was gone.
As they were wondering about this, angels appeared before them in clothes that dazzled like lightning. The women were terrified and bowed down with their faces to the ground. And the angels announced, “Jesus is not here. He has risen from the dead! Remember he told you, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law. He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.'” Then they remembered that Jesus had indeed said this.
When they went back from the tomb, they told the disciples what had happened. The men thought the story was too farfetched, and they did not believe them right away. Then Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb. When they arrived, Peter went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen that had been wrapped around the body of Jesus, but the body was no longer there. The other disciple also went in. He saw and believed.
Later that day, the disciples were gathered in a locked room. Jesus suddenly appeared. He said, “Peace be with you.” And he showed them his hands and side where he had been pierced. They knew it was not just a ghost or a vision, but Jesus had returned from the dead in his physical body, the same body that was nailed on the cross.
Thomas was a disciple of Jesus, but he was not there when Jesus appeared to them. They told him, “We have seen Jesus! He is alive!” But Thomas answered, “I will not believe unless I see the nail wounds in his hands and put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side where they pierced him.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but like last time, Jesus suddenly appeared among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Do not be faithless, but believe.” Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus reminded him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
He spent time with his disciples, reminding them how the prophets predicted everything that had happened. He explained the significance of his life, his ministry, his death, and his resurrection. His life was lived in righteousness as a representative of his people. His ministry showed humanity the way of God through his words, actions, and miracles. His death paid the price for sin, and his resurrection opened the door of everlasting life for all who would trust and follow him.
The news about the resurrection of Jesus spread quickly. Those who believed were filled with new hope and joy. They knew that their master had defeated even death itself.
Thousands of years before this, Adam and Eve had fallen into sin, bringing ruin to all of humanity. God promised that a future descendant of the woman, many generations later, would defeat the enemy, Satan. He said that although the serpent would injure this man, the man would crush the serpent’s head. He would defeat the enemy for humanity. This man would take back everything that was lost because of sin, and he would gain even more for humanity.
At last, the promise was fulfilled. For a moment, Satan had injured the promised hero, Jesus Christ, but Jesus crushed his head. Jesus overcame sin and death for his people. And this victory is your victory, if you will believe in Jesus and follow him.